The event was the Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game, the Silicon Valley Youth Classic at San Jose City College, and Pat Justman of Palo Alto and Trevor Hooper and Jordan Nelson of Mountain View were all there too.

That was on July 25. Less than four weeks later they were in college uniforms, opening yet another chapter in their illustrious football careers—Edwards and Hooper at Stanford, Nelson at the University of Oregon and Justman at San Diego State.

The four are just a few of the many talented high school football players have used the summer game as a springboard to future gridiron glories.

And as the annual classic returns for a 29th time this summer, the question is who will be next stars of the "Best Game in Town"?

The rosters for the 2003 summer game have just been released, and a talented crop of graduating high school seniors are set to play in this year's game on July 23, 7:30 p.m., at San Jose City College.

Among the local players set to play for the North team in the summer game are Greg Van Hoesen of Saratoga, Bryen Blankenship and Robert Jennings of Westmont, Austin Baumgarten and Ivan Biondic of Prospect and Chris Bencomo of Lynbrook.

Van Hoesen has already earned a football scholarship to UC Berkeley and will join Edwards, Hooper and Jordan in the Pac-10 in the fall.


Rotary sponsorship

The Almaden Valley Rotary Club sponsors the football game each summer, with proceeds going to the Rotary charity and scholarship programs. And it all started because members of the Almaden Valley Rotary Club had an idea.

"Three Rotarians came to the police department and met with me at the PAL office," said game chairman Jim Guido, now a Rotarian himself but at that time the head of the San Jose Police Activities League. "They said, 'We have an idea for an all-star football game.'"

So Guido, his PAL staff and the Rotarians went to work to make the idea a reality.

"We had a marriage of sorts," said Guido of the relationship between the Rotary and the PAL. "They came up with the idea which was a good one, and we had the expertise to put the game together."

The first game was played in the summer of 1974. With the exception of 1976, the game has been played every summer since, and Guido has been involved in every one of the 27 games.

"The great thing about this game is that there are no politics involved," said Guido. "This game is for the kids."


Football banquet

The players and coaches selected for the 2002 game are invited to a banquet in their honor on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Three Flames restaurant in Willow Glen.

Special guest John Ralston, a former coach for Stanford, San José State University and the Denver Broncos, will introduce the evening's guest speaker, SJSU coach Dr. Fitz Hill.


North team

Leigh High School coach Shawn Thomas will lead the North team in the all-star game. Members of the North team include:

Cupertino—Andrew Ravadge, guard/defensive tackle; Ben Reynolds, fullback/linebacker. Del Mar—Brett Payton, wide receiver. Fremont—Jesse Enchill, wide receiver. Gunn—Phil Ghilarducci, wide receiver/defensive back; Aaron Jaratovac, guard/defensive tackle. Harker Academy—Chris Davis, running back/defensive back. Homestead—Will Faules, running back/kick returner; Garren Strong, wide receiver/punt returner; Ramont Thomas, linebacker. Leigh—Thomas DeLash, fullback/defensive end; Chris Galvez, center/defensive tackle; Chris Orozco, running back/defensive back; Ruben Rodriguez, offensive line/defensive line; Sean Williams, strong safety; Mohammed Zahriya, wide receiver/defensive back. Los Gatos—John Allen, tackle; Dennis Freeman, running back; Travis Howell, linebacker/fullback; Andrew O'Gorman, tackle; Alex Rollin, quarterback; Derek Tam, wide receiver/defensive back. Lynbrook—Chris Bencomo, defensive back. Milpitas—Tristan Brown running back/defensive back; Jeff Kruskamp, tight end/linebacker; Shawn Lepisi, running back/linebacker. Mitty—Cameron Butcher, defensive line; Rocco Caringello, running back. Mountain View—Sean Manson, quarterback. Palo Alto—Vince Juarez, guard/linebacker; Tolu Wusu, wide receiver. Prospect—Austin Baumgarten, linebacker; Ivan Biondic, running back/defensive back. Santa Clara—Joe Oliveira, offensive line. Saratoga—Greg Van Hoesen, linebacker. St. Francis—J.B. Bellotti, tight end; Mike Manoukian, offensive line; Matt Richards, tight end/defensive line. St. Lawrence Academy—Hoai Le, running back/defensive back. Westmont—Bryen Blankenship, quarterback; Robert Jennings, linebacker/tight end. Wilcox—Chris Fultcher, tight end/defensive end; Bucky Galbreath, wide receiver/defensive back; John Ratliff, linebacker/running back.


South team

Piedmont Hills High School head coach Matt Kiesle of Piedmont Hills High School will head up the South squad for the summer game. Members of the South team include:

Andrew Hill—William Hitzel, tight end. Bellarmine—Jarred Belser, running back; Shannon Sever, strong safety; Brandon Valenzuela, guard. Branham—Matt Blanco, tackle; Andrew Boer, center/defensive end; Kyle Farnham, quarterback. Gilroy—Tony Beal, fullback/linebacker; Brian Lopez, tackle. Gunderson—Gary Lovely, tight end/linebacker. Independence—Alex Fa'agai, tight end; Edward James, guard; Alesana Ulu, quarterback/defensive back. James Lick—Daniel Acosta, wide receiver. Leland—John Chin, wide receiver; John Gardner, offensive lineman. Lincoln—Francisco Mendoza, defensive tackle; Francisco Ramirez, fullback/strong safety. Live Oak—Orin Catrett, wide receiver; Bryan Jones, linebacker. Oak Grove—Steve Blanco, wide receiver; Lancer Iosefa, running back/cornerback; Mike Rodriguez, tackle. Overfelt—Alan Webster, running back. Piedmont Hills—Guy Blightman, wide receiver; Keith Harper, fullback/linebacker; Jeremy Jones, running back/linebacker; T.J. Monroe, wide receiver/safety; Bradley Niles, tight end; Leonard Pinon, guard/tackle. Pioneer—Tyler Ruocchio, tight end/linebacker; Luis Salazar, guard/tackle; Alan Walsh, center. San Jose—Gene Kim, fullback. Santa Teresa—Stephen Joyce, defensive end. Silver Creek—Dustin Long, quarterback; Anthony Reyes, running back. Valley Christian—Ryan Abbott, outside linebacker; Erik Ames, wide receiver; Casey Bronzovic, tight end; Adam Crownover, defensive tackle; Tyler Mariucci, quarterback/defensive back; Jeff Ullom, guard/linebacker. Willow Glen—Doug Dionne, wide receiver/defensive back. Yerba Buena—Justin Cabana, wide receiver; Elray Henry, running back/linebacker.